National Republican., 1887-02-22

is unanimous, confirms the right Of the
contestee (Steele) to the seat
Mr.. Cobb, Of Indiana, then called up the
conference report--a report Of disagree
ment-on the bill repeating the pre-emption,
timber culture, and desert land laws.
Mr.. Stone, OF Missouri, explained the de.
tails Of the progress OF this measure In both
houses, and the difference between the two
houses which the conferees had succeeded
In harmonizing. He stated among other
facts that the rapid augmentation OF the
population OF the country, the rapid de-
crease OF the area Of the public lands, aud
the growing demand for homes had led the
committee on public lands to report a
measure to the House providing for the
repeal OF the pre-emption, timber culture,
and desert land laws. Under existing law
a single person could enter 100 acres under
the homestead, 160 acres under the pre-
emption, 160 under the timber culture, and
GAO under the desert land law, making
total OF 1,l2O acres. The committee had
considered 1t wise and more humane that
the lands should be distributed in smaller
quantities TO greater number OF people.
Outrageous and scandalous abuses had
grown up under existing laws, which had
been taken advantage OF by cormorants and
land sharks In order to secure millions Of
acres OF the public lands. These abuses the
Mr.. Peters, OF Kansas, said that the diff
Terence between the two houses was as to
protection OF innocent purchasers. The
position OF the Senate was that persons
who had purchased from preemptors in
good faith should be projected in their
rights; the position of the House was vir-
tually that innocence should be punished 10
order that guilt might not go Unpublished.
The House did not propose that one limo.
cent man should be punished In order that
ninety,nine guilty persons might not go
unpunished,. but 1t proposed TO reverse
that rule OF morality and deliberately to
punish ninety.nine innocent persons In
order that one rogue might not go un.
whipped OF Justice. 1t would be dishonor.
able to repeal the presumption law and not
provide for the protection of innocent
purchasers.
He admitted that some fraud had been
committed under the pre.emption law, but
the fault did not lie In the law, but In It's
administration. One cause OF the fraud
was to be found In the penurious and In
adequate appropriations for the clerical
force at the local land offices. He criticised
the present administration of the general
land office and the conduct Of the special
agents sent out by It, declaring that they
were appointed to convict. If the harvest
OF fraud was not ripe they were expected
to ripen 1t; II the seed was not sown they
they were expected to SOW It and nurture
1t, and finally garner 1t into the department
at Washington, In proof Of the assertion
that so per cent. Of the public land entries
were fraudulent. The wrongs OF the Irish
tenants were nothing in comparison with
the wrongs perpetrated on the homestead
ers and pre.emptors Of the western prairies
He protested against the repeal Of the pre-
emption law, which had been benefcent In
Its results, and asserted that its repeal
would only revert to the interest Of the
cattle kings and syndicates. -SS4s
The report was further debated at con-
siderable length by Messrs. Strait, Perkins,
Dongherty. Brown, Laird, symes, Payson,
Gilfllan, McAdoo, at the conclusion OF
which, by a vote Of 96 to 3S, the report OF
the conferees was accepted. Mr.. Cobb
then moved that the House refuse to re-
cede from its disagreement to the Senate
amendments, and agree to the request for a
further conference. Agreed to.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, It
was ordered that the daily hour for the
meeting Of the House shall be IL o'clock.
The House then (at 8 o'clock) adjourned.